Wednesday 21st October

October 21, 2015

On Thursday we were disappointed with the effort from DUCK A L’ORANGE. He was settled towards the rear and found very little after coming off the bridle before the two furlong pole. He is now eligible for a handicap mark and it will be interesting to see how the handicapper assesses him on his three runs.

On Friday it was a shame that MODEST could not get another bracket by her name. She was carrying a penalty for her win at Catterick ten days earlier and did not get that much room when trying to challenge passing the furlong pole. She had every chance to get to the winner once in the clear, but could not quite get up. This was a good effort and she appears to look a progressive type who may get further. She has had a long season and is entered in the Horses in Training Sales next week. Later on the card SCHOOL FETE ran on well from the back of the field down the outside and this was much better than on his debut over course and distance last month. He looks the type for handicaps after one more run and hopefully should fill his frame over the winter and make up into a nice horse.

On Saturday STRAIT OF MAGELLAN returned to Catterick as a course and distance winner and we expected him to run well again. He was switched wide to challenge after finding a wall of horses in front of him approaching the final furlong. He stayed on well, but could never catch up to the first two. He looked slightly unlucky and maybe with a stronger jockey and a bit more luck in running, I am sure he would have got his head in front.

On Sunday it was great to see BIPARTISAN get her head in front again. Always prominent she was ridden to lead over two furlongs out. She was joined in the final furlong, but stuck her head out and held on to score her win. She is entered in the December Sales and heads to the ring a two time winner.

On Monday our only runner was TAPER TANTRUM. Held up towards the rear, he was ridden and made some progress over two furlongs out. He tried to close on the leaders and faded in the last furlong. He is gelded now and hopefully he will get some time at grass to freshen him up and bring him back in the right frame of mind next season. He has talent of that we do not have any doubt.

Yesterday we started the afternoon off at Windsor with DUCHY. She looked green early on and was slowly into her stride towards the rear. She made some headway two furlongs from home running on well to get fourth. It looks as though it could turn out to be quite a good maiden and we were certainly encouraged by her run on only her second start. Later on the card it was great to see INSTANT KARMA get his head in front. He was given a positive ride from the front and stole a march on his rivals once entering the home straight and was in no real danger after passing the furlong marker. With the visor abandoned, a switch to front-running was clearly up his street and he appears to be an Autumn horse having won this time last year. Hopefully he can progress from this and looks a nice sort to go hurdling although he does not have any sale entries. At Lingfield DAVEY BOY was making his racecourse debut. Always towards the rear, he was ridden three furlongs out. He was soon struggling behind in the final two furlongs. He looked green early on and is sure to come on for the race. We will give him another run fairly quickly as he was pushed wide early on and did not really appear to get in the race.

Today we declared the two runners at Newmarket. We started the afternoon with CARTER PACE. Steadied at the start, she took a keen hold when held up in touch in the last quartet. She was pushed along two furlongs out and soon looked outpaced. She is sure to have needed the run and I am sure you will see improvement next time. Later on the card STRATHEARN never really got going on the soft ground and finished down the field. He is due to be gelded this week and hopefully it will be the making of him.

We have no runners tomorrow and then on Friday we have declared TOWERLANDS PARK and TAUREAN STAR. TOWERLANDS PARK appears to have come on for his run and worked nicely this morning. Hopefully he will show that improvement here. Later on the card TAUREAN STAR is hoping to build on his recent Ascot win and should hopefully go close here again.